Four-time world champion M C Mary Kom (46kg) and L Sarita Devi (51kg) were assured of at least a bronze medal each after they eased into the semifinals of the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Four-time world champion M C Mary Kom (46kg) and L Sarita Devi (51kg) were assured of at least a bronze medal each after they eased into the semifinals of the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.
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Mary Kom defeated Sri Lanka's Anushka 6-3, while Sarita thrashed Ri Hyang Mi of North Korea 10-1 amid protests from the rival camp, which alleged unfair scoring.
However, it was heartbreak for Mizoram boxer Venlal Duati (48kg) who lost to China's Luo Yujie. Duati was locked 1-1 with Yujie after the regulation four rounds and the boxers' scores were found to be the same in the count-back as well.
The five-member judges' panel then stepped in and all of them declared Yujie as the better of the two, Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General Col P K Muralidharan Raja, who is in Astana as a technical delegate, told PTI over phone.
The diminutive Mary Kom, who is aiming to better the silver she won in the previous edition of the event, was the first to step into the ring from the Indian team yesterday.
The 27-year-old took a 2-0 lead in the first round and stretched it to 5-1 after the third round. Anushka tried to claw back in the final two minutes but the effort proved too little too late.
"It was tougher then the first-round bout but I have the experience to adjust according to the situation. I attacked more today and caught her on counter-punches as well," Mary Kom said from Astana.
Sarita, who was a gold medallist in the last edition, was even more dominant as she out-punched Mi. With a 3-1 lead to start with, Sarita dominated the proceedings but there was some drama after the bout as the Korean team lodged a protest against what they called unfair judging.
"The Korean team felt that their boxer was not given points for genuine punches. They lodged a protest," Raja said.
India has an 11-strong presence at the event where 16 countries are competing.
India had finished third with three gold and a couple of silver medals in the last edition held in Guwahati.
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